Woman wants share of Brown estate

Tuesday

Aug 28, 2007 at 6:00 AM

AIKEN - The Houston woman recently confirmed to be one of at least three illegitimate children fathered by James Brown is contesting his will, which did not mention her.

LaRhonda Petitt's Columbia-based attorney filed paperwork in Aiken County Court on Friday asking that the 45-year-old woman be given an equal share in the music legend's estate as if he'd died without a will.

She also wants reimbursement for the money that should have been paid to support her until she was 18.

Ms. Petitt is one of a dozen people who have undergone DNA testing to determine whether they are the illegitimate children of Mr. Brown, although only three have been found to be the Godfather of Soul's progeny.

Other DNA tests are pending, said Buddy Dallas, one of the singer's personal representatives, and others have been ruled out. He said he did not know how many were still undergoing testing.

Ms. Petitt said she wants to make sure that her daughters receive money from the James Brown Family Education Trust, set up to pay for his grandchildren's schooling.

But she said she's also upset that Mr. Brown never acknowledged her as his daughter and never helped support her.

Her mother, Ruby Shannon, died when she was 13.

"He never gave my Mama a dime," she said.

Ms. Petitt's petitions also ask that Mr. Brown be declared her legal and biological father and that the South Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics change its records to reflect her parentage.

She also asks that the estate pay for her attorney fees and other expenses.

"Times are hard for me," Ms. Petitt said. "I had good parenting here, but it could have been better. It could have been a whole lot better."

Ms. Petitt is the third person to challenge the will. His disputed fourth wife, Tomi Rae Hynie, and her 6-year-old son are contesting the will they, too, were left out of.

James Brown II's paternity has been called into question, but he has not undergone a DNA test.